The Hackney North and Stoke
Newington MP, who previously campaigned to end the sale of cheap alcohol, did
receive several supportive messages in reply to her tweet. These included, “I’m sincerely sorry you feel the need to say sorry
Dianne and I hope you really enjoyed your drink” and “Put it in a water
bottle next time”.

The combination of the Marks
& Spencer’s detail and Abbott’s earnestness paved her way into the hearts
of millions. She did not attempt to justify nor offer an excuse for her
behaviour, nor direct blame on the cheeky snapper who exposed her whilst she
was quietly sipping away on the Overground.

Arguably, there is nothing
Britain needs more right now that a candid reminder that politicians are, in
fact, people. People who, quite often, make mistakes. Abbott’s drinking has led
to more good than evil, it seems, brightening the days of Londoners across the
city and the sales figures of national treasure Marks & Spencer.

Abbott’s actions led to a flurry
of commuters anxious to get their hands on an M&S mojito, which caused
sell-outs in M&S stores all over London.

Of course, like everything in
Britain, there is a class element to the story. At £2.25 for 25cl, these
pre-mixed cocktails do not come cheap. The slender cans scream privilege, and
disregard the world of mixology and extensive bar menus, which arguably, also
scream privilege.

Many people agreed that judging
by the current state of UK politics over Brexit, it is a wonder all MPs are not
knocking back the cans on their commute home.

all I know is that if I was an MP in the current political climate I’d have been necking M&S tinnies on public transport for months

Last
year, MPs swigged some 4,000 bottles of wines and spirits, 20 per cent up on
2016, the year of the EU referendum and the arrival of Donald Trump.

In 2012, drunken Labour MP
Eric Joyce attacked four Conservative politicians in a House of Commons bar
before telling police: “You can’t touch me, I’m an MP”. Sadly, Mr Joyce was
mistaken. A 12-month community order and £3,000 fine later, Mr Joyce said he
was “ashamed and embarrassed”.

But here, we are not
talking about an unruly alcohol-fuelled brawl on the District line. Lunchtime
or not, Abbott committed a minor transgression of the law, which she swiftly
accepted and apologised.

And of course, in our bizarrely performative digital age, a Facebook event is borne out of the incident, inviting citizens to express their solidarity by following in Abbott’s footsteps on 22 June. One can only imagine the M&S Head of Sales’ delight. Fill your boots, Diane, and let the rest of us have a sip too.